SC pulls up Gujarat for its illogical Covid restrictions

SC pulls up Gujarat for its illogical Covid restrictions

Seeks Action Plan To Curb Virus Surge Within Two Days

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  24.11.2020

Worried over possible worsening of the grim Covid-19 situation after the festive season and onset of winter, the Supreme Court on Monday asked all states to submit action plans in two days to ensure the pandemic does not spin out of hand and came down heavily on Gujarat for its illogical restrictions and told the Delhi government to tighten its belt.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R S Reddy and M R Shah minced no words in telling Gujarat the flaws in its plans to arrest a surge in Covid-19 cases. “The situation is alarming in the state. What is the logic behind banning marriage celebrations between 9 pm and 6 am when marriage celebrations can be held in the daytime? How are the authorities sure that congregations in the day will not result in spreading the disease? You explain the logic behind this decision,” the bench said.

It also rapped the state for allowing politicians, MPs and MLAs to take out political rallies and processions while restraining others. “What is happening? The state is facing the worst situation. The state must file an affidavit explaining the logic behind these decisions. It also must file a status report about steps being taken and would be taken to bring the situation under control," Justice Shah said.

A health worker takes aswab sample from a man for a covid test at CTM on Monday

SC: All states have to be ready to combat worsened situation

The SC bench’s order said, “It is submitted in this court that in the month of November, there has been a great spike of Covid-19 cases throughout the country, especially in the states of Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is also submitted that the situation in the month of December is likely to worsen and all states have to be prepared to combat the worsened situation regarding Covid-19.”

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said Delhi government would have to answer a lot of questions about managing the situation in the national Capital as the home minister had to intervene to give impetus to steps being taken, including augmentation of infrastructure, to fight a spike in cases. He urged the court to direct states to file their action plans by Monday evening for the court to take up hearing on Tuesday.

Appearing for Delhi, additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain said the state government has now reserved 80% of ICU beds in all 115 private hospitals of Delhi for Covid-19 patients as many people from the NCR were coming to the Capital for better treatment.

The SC said, “The situation has worsened in Delhi in the last two weeks and it is for Delhi government to augment the infrastructure and facilities for patient care. We are of the view that immediate steps are required to be taken by all the states as well as by the Union government. Let the status reports, as indicated above, be filed within two days from today and the matter be listed on November 27 for consideration and passing appropriate orders.”

The Supreme Court had taken up the case suo motu on noticing news reports about bodies of Covid-19 patients being dumped in major Delhi government hospitals in the early days of the pandemic.

The Delhi high court is also dealing with the issue of Covid care steps being taken by Delhi government.

Times View:

Coronavirus is cunning and cruel. Everyone is susceptible to it. To fight the outbreak, one needs the right science-based strategy and a sincerity of approach. Mere posturing will not do. The apex court has rightly asked the state for an explanation on its stance, which prima facie seems illogical.

Visitors at the National Library of India as it reopened for members after more than eight months, in Kolkata on Monday